Holiday travel ramps up as millions hit the roads and skies ahead of Christmas
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – With Christmas just days away, millions of people across the country are already packing up and heading out, hoping to beat the holiday rush on highways and at airports.
AAA estimates nearly 110 million people will travel by car this holiday season, while more than 8 million are expected to fly. Many travelers are taking that advice to heart by leaving earlier than usual.
We caught up with Kate Peterson at Buc-ee’s in Richmond, traveling from South Carolina to Wisconsin. She said she started her trip just after midnight to avoid traffic.
“We got up at midnight and left at 12:45 a.m. to kind of beat some of the traffic,” Peterson said. “So, it’s been good so far.”
Others hitting the road later in the morning say traffic has been manageable — at least for now. Greg Grieco and Katrina Anderson left around 6:15 a.m. and are bracing for potential slowdowns as they approach major cities.
“We’re probably going to hit Chicago kind of when it starts getting busy,” Grieco said. “But it’s a nice sunny day, it’s always good to travel when the weather’s good. Hopefully we’ll beat rush hour — but it’s Chicago, so it’s just going to be what it is.”
Blue Grass Airport is also gearing up for heavy holiday traffic. Airport officials say more than 9,000 passengers departed the airport recently, and around 2,500 departures are expected on Tuesday alone.
For those still planning their trips, travel experts recommend leaving as early as possible, allowing extra time, and checking for road conditions or flight delays before heading out.
AAA also shared guidance for travelers heading home after Christmas, saying the best time to travel is before 11 a.m., while the busiest window is typically between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
